During triage at a blast site, which precaution should guide the initial patient assessments?

• A. Move quickly to access patients without checking for threats.
• B. Rely on bystanders for hazard information.
• C. Watch for secondary devices while assessing patients.
• D. Focus solely on life-threatening injuries and ignore scene safety.

Answer: (C)

In blast triage, protecting yourself and others from ongoing danger is the top priority, so initial patient assessments must be guided by scene safety. You continually look for hazards, especially the possibility of secondary devices that could be used to harm responders after the first explosion. As you move through the area, assess from a safe position, watch for suspicious items or patterns, and wait for clearance from incident command or law enforcement before entering zones you suspect may still be dangerous. This approach lets you identify life-threatening injuries and tag patients while reducing the risk of becoming a casualty yourself, so you can continue helping others. Relying on bystanders for hazard information is unreliable, and ignoring scene safety would put you and others at greater risk. Safety-driven triage supports effective, continuing care rather than rushing in without regard for threats.